Power Spot in Ise Jingu

One of the most recent booms in Japan, perhaps due to the economic recession, is the “power spots”, places designated with high positive energy that help visitors improve their finance, health, or good luck.



Ise Jingu in the Mie prefecture is one of the sites most constantly featured in the media as a power spot; consequently, the shrine saw an increased number of visitors, breaking the previous record of 8.6 million, set in 1973 at Shinkinen Sengu when the main shrine was rebuilt, as per its 20 years cycle.



Two of the spots inside the Ise Jingu gaku often mentioned as power spots are the Uji bridge, and the Isuzu river on the way to the main shrine.



Due to the increased number of visitors, a weekday is recommended for a relaxed visit.


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Nostalgic shopping district Okage Yokocho

The shopping area Okage Yokocho in Uji, Ise city in mie prefecture, was created in July 1993 to reproduce the streets of Iseji road in the late Edo and early Meiji period, with gratitude (“okage”) toward Ise Jingu.



In front of the Ise Jingu Naiku, the place is not a theme park and thus is not admission charge, with 45 stores in typical structures of the Ise area, to experience the flavor of the old local shops, the regional food, the customs and the people.




The area is always full of isejingu visitors purchasing souvenirs, specially the famous akafuku mochi.




Okageza is museum to experience visit to Ise during the edo period.

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Isejingu, Naiku

Naiku or Inner Shrine is with Geku the most important of the Isejinku shrine complex. Naiku is dedicated to Amaterasu Omikami, the sun goddess and supreme deity.


Naiku as Geku is surrounded by 90 hectares of cypress forest, part of the sacred forest of Jingu.


To main access to Naiku is via the Uji bridge, a wooden bridge that just has been rebuilt last year. The main shrine building, as well as the bridge, is destroyed and rebuilt every 20 years, in a tradition dating back to the 7th century; the next scheduled rebuilding of the Isejingu shrine is 2013.




Visitors can pause before visiting the Inner shrine at Kaguraden, feed the sacred koi, or contemplate the strutting roosters strutting wandering around which are associated with Amaterasu because it crows before dawn.



The final approach to Kotaijingu or main sanctuary is via stone steps where worshipers can get as close as the first gate, as in Gaku, photos are not allowed in this area.

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Isejingu, Geku

IseJingu in the city of Ise in Mie prefecture is the holiest and most important Shinto shrine complex dedicated to the goddess Amateras-Omikami, the supreme deity, who is also ancestor of the imperial family according to the Japanese mythology.


Isejingu main shrines are the Geku or Outer shrine, and the Naiku or Inner shrine.Protocol requires that worshipers pay respects to Geku before visiting Naiku.


Naiku shrine is dedicated to the Toyouke Omikami or the god of food, clothing and shelter. The entrance is a short walk from the Ise city station.


The stall for the horse offered by the imperial family was empty as the offering horse arrived a week after my visit.


The Shrine architecture of Ise shrines cannot be used in the construction of any other shrine.


Unfortunately the shrine is walled and visitors are not allowed inside, morover photos are not allowed, visitors pay respects from the entrance of the main shrine.

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